Month: April 2012

It is with great excitement and honor today to be featured on the newly launched Mom Heart blog which is a place for moms in all stages of life. At Mom Heart you will find many inspirational mothers who share their lives. They all have one thing in common which is they desire to encourage, equip and influence moms seeking God’s heart for motherhood. Many of the mothers have successful ministries/blogs and think highly of God”s calling for motherhood. So when you need encouragement head over to Mom Heart which is sure to bless your socks off.

I first heard Clay and Sally speak in Anaheim, CA at a home school conference in 1997. Their heart for discipling children captivated me and I sought wisdom through their resources and conferences. Proverbs 13:20 says “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

I considered Sally to be one of the most influential women in my life. Sally’s grace based parenting and approach to teaching has impacted my family and many others worldwide. I am blessed to call Sally a friend and to partner with her and many other like minded women.

My mission is to encourage other moms as I have been tremendously blessed the last 15 years. Luke 12:48b “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

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Like many women I have met, I was brought up unprepared for the challenges of motherhood…

I did not seek after it with much enthusiasm. I was afraid of what might happen if I were to bring children into the world because I was consumed with anger and bitterness from my own upbringing. Every child longs for a parent’s love, attention, affection, acceptance, comfort, and approval and I was no different. When these needs go unmet, a child or young adult will seek to have them met in things such as drugs, sex, control, money, success, or unhealthy relationships. Thankfully, I encountered the only person who could truly meet my needs, and that was Jesus Christ. He’s the only person I’ve ever met that gives freely and without any strings attached. His redemptive love rescued me on February 25, 1987 when my husband, Jon, and I accepted Christ.

“I received exactly what I needed to begin the journey of motherhood as I was given the Holy Spirit to teach and guide me (John 14:26; 16:13)…..

Our ways are not always God’s ways, which was true in 1995 when Jon was offered an incredible job in Carlsbad, CA. I was not excited about leaving Austin, TX nor the precious community group we were part of. Jon said we would return to Austin in three years.

Jeremiah 29:11 was the promise that God tenderly put on my heart when I agreed to the move (I probably didn’t have the best attitude). To impress me and get me on board the company flew Jon and I out to San Diego for a week. Hello, free vacation without children, count me in! We visited a church on Sunday, which at the end of the service we went up for prayer and shared we were thinking about moving to CA. The couple unknowingly prayed Jeremiah 29:11 over us – God knew 🙂 and used it to directed us. Then our community group surprised us with the below framed art as a going away gift, which continually reminds me of God’s love for me.

Surprisingly the three short years we were in Carlsbad, CA were the most spiritually life changing years of my walk. There are so many things that I experienced as a result of my obedience to follow my husband and listen to God. Did I mention that San Diego is close to paradise? I am grateful that Jon had the opportunity to pursue his dream as God’s ways rightfully were better that my ways.

Today one of the three chrysalis transformed into a beautiful Monarch butterfly. Unfortunately, we did not get to see it emerge. I feel like we just missed it as it continued to hang upside down for it’s wings to fully expand and dry. Once we took it out of the container it hung upside down on Cayley’s finger for over 20 minutes. Needless to saw we were able to observe many of its details up close. We did finally put it outside and watched it fly away to begin a new life cycle as it will be ready to mate in 4-7 days. We still have two more chrysalis and hopefully we will be able to witness it exit the chrysalis.

The Butterfly has been said to be symbolic of the Resurrection. I believe I heard this illustration during my Catholic school years.

The caterpillar which just eats represents daily normal earthly life where people are preoccupied with taking care of their physical needs.

The chrysalis resembles the tomb.

The butterfly represents the resurrection. The butterfly emerges into a glorious new life free of material restrictions.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

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A bit about me…

Cherie Werner is a wife to Jon and mother to three daughters ages 28, 26, and 16. She is passionate about learning and believes that the key to true success in any relationship is loving others authentically. Cherie is keen on encouraging women in their roles as wives and mothers. It is her desire to help women become aware of the legacy that they want to leave behind. Writing and speaking is one way for her to share what she has learned along her life journey.